The Wildcats women’s basketball team wrapped up the 2012-13 season with a win over Northwest Conference foe Willamette University on Feb. 19 at the Ted Wilson Gymnasium.

Prior to the game, Linfield senior Nicole Barton was honored as the Wildcats’ lone senior on senior night.

The scoring started low for both teams, with only one basket scored in the first three minutes by Wildcats’ sophomore Katelyn Henson. At the 17-minute mark, the ’Cats started their run, extending their two-point lead to five points with 14 minutes left.

“Jumping out to an early lead is always a good indicator of how the overall game will go,” Henson said. “We set the tempo and were able to keep control of the outcome.”

The trend continued for the remainder of the first half, as the Wildcats left to the locker room with a 14-point lead, 34-20. The ’Cats scoring was helped out largely by the bench, who contributed 11 points. The Wildcats out-shot the Bearcats 47-21 percent.

With a healthy lead, the Wildcats took control of the court in the second half and continued with their success. Aided by a 41 field goal percentage in the half, the ’Cats showed their dominance, taking the game by a final score of 66-45.

Junior Kaely Maltman led the Wildcats in scoring with 15 points and shooting six of seven from the field. Henson and Maltman each added seven additional rebounds.

“I felt like collectively, as a team, we were even across the scoreboard,” Henson said. “I also thought that we played great defense and didn’t let them get many second chance shots.”

This was the third win of the season for the Wildcats, who finished with a final record of 3-19.

“Going out on a win was the perfect way to wrap up a season like this,” Henson said. “Although our record doesn’t show it, we have grown immensely over the past few months as a team, and I have no doubt that we will continue to improve as the 2013-14 season rolls in.”

Chris Haddeland
Senior reporter

Chris Haddeland can be reached at [email protected].

Photo by Ivanna Tucker/Sports editor